Basic Principles of

Successful Grant Writing

Dr. Linda Blount

Welcome!

Grant Writing Basic Principles is

designed to help you:

Identify key elements of successful

grant writing
Determine the right funding source
for your program
Write grant proposals funders want

Overview

Grant Writing Basics

Funds and Funders
Developing a Funding Strategy
What the Funder is Seeking
Key Elements of a Grant
Other Resources
3

Grant Writing Basics

Preparing to Write the

Grant Proposal

A fundamental element is
relationship building with funding
sources
Grants are essential to expanding
program/project resources
Most grants are awarded on a
competitive basis
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Before You Write the

Grant Proposal

Obtain grant proposal guidelines

Review eligibility requirements
Identify match/leveraging
requirements
Know the submission deadline
Determine personnel needs
Other administrative requirements
6

Other Important Points

Supporting materials

Letters of endorsement/support
Rsums
Exhibit charts/tables

Signatures
Submission format
Delivery requirements
7

Key Elements of a
Grant Proposal

Cover letter
Title page
Summary/Abstract
Introduction
Needs assessment
Goals and objectives
Project description
8

Key Elements of a
Grant Proposal

Future plans/Capacity building

Facilities and Equipment
Staffing and Administration
Timetable
Evaluation method
Budget
Corporate rsum
9

Qualities of a Good
Grant Proposal

Its clear!

Its precise!

Its persuasive!
10

After You Submit the

Grant Proposal

Contact the funder

Request feedback
Send a thank-you letter
Keep funders involved with
program activities

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Funds and Funders

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Types of Funds

Public funds (Government)

City
County
State
Federal

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Types of Funds

Foundation (Private sector)

Community Based
National
Special Interest
Family
Corporate

14

Developing a Funding
Strategy

15

What Is a Funding Strategy

and Why Is One Needed?

An effective funding strategy:

Helps identify needs and resources

Builds upon overall mission and goals
Addresses the gaps in resources

16

Developing a Funding
Strategy

Developing your project idea

Assessing your capability to seek
funding
Researching potential funding
sources and developing a
relationship with them
Developing credibility
17

Developing Your Project

Idea

What new programs are you

planning for the next two to three
years?
Which of the above programs are
compatible with your current
mission and purpose?
What community needs does each
program address?
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Assessing Your Capability

to Seek Funding

What makes you competitive?

What is your reputation in the
community?
Are prior funders satisfied with
your performance?
What is the capability of staff?
What would be the financial
impact; do you have match?
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Researching Potential
Funders

Document leverage

Letters of Commitment
Memoranda of Understanding

20

What the Funder Is Seeking

21

Key Elements of a
Grant Proposal

Cover letter
Abstract (sometimes required)
Headers/table of contents

22

Key Elements of a
Grant Proposal

Needs assessment

Begins with a community analysis

Goal is a better understanding of what
makes a community function effectively
Includes identification of:

Community members
Geographic boundaries
Needs, interests, skills of members
Available supportive services

23

Key Elements of a
Grant Proposal

Needs assessment

Community
City and state
Program/project-specific resources

24

Key Elements of a
Grant Proposal

Project description

Goals

Objectives

Qualitative
Abstract
Long-term
Quantitative
Specific
Short-term

Method
25

Key Elements of a Proposal

Budget formats

Line-item budget
Budget narrative

Budget components

Salaries
Fringe benefits
Supplies and materials
Equipment
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Key Elements of a Proposal

Budget components (continued)

Consultant/contractual fees
Travel
Construction [Not allowed in most]
Overhead/indirect costs
Matching funds
Other
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Key Elements of a
Grant Proposal

Organization/capacity

Personnel
Facilities
Equipment
Experience
Partnerships
Unique or special resources
Sustainability/scalability
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Key Elements of a
Grant Proposal

Benefits of evaluation

Stronger proposal in reviewers eyes

Strengthens the program before
implementation
Assures that funds are being used as
intended

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Key Elements of a
Grant Proposal

Why Proposals Fail

Seeing the Grant Proposal Through
the Reviewers Eyes
Grant Writing Tips

30

Triple check your numbers!

31

Independent Review

32

READY TO SUBMIT

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Other Resources

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Popular Web Sites

The Foundation Center

Foundations On-Line

www.foundations.org

The Grantsmanship Center

www.fdncenter.org

www.tgci.com

Nonprofit Resource Center

www.not-for-profit.org
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Other Resources

Funding Directories
Foundation Annual Reports
Professional Memberships

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Summary

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What We Covered

Grant writing basics

The types of funds and funders
Developing a funding strategy
Key elements of a proposal

38

What We Discussed

The importance of:

Analyzing what you need

Researching to find the right funding
source
Meeting the funders needs when
writing a proposal

39